Characterization of a chemical affinity probe targeting Akt kinases.

Protein kinases are key regulators of cellular processes, and aberrant function is often associated with human disease. Consequently, kinases represent an important class of therapeutic targets and about 20 kinase inhibitors (KIs) are in clinical use today. Detailed knowledge about the selectivity of KIs is important for the correct interpretation of their pharmacological and systems biological effects.

Reverse engineering of an affinity-switchable molecular interaction characterized by atomic force microscopy single-molecule force spectroscopy.

Tunable and switchable interaction between molecules is a key for regulation and control of cellular processes. The translation of the underlying physicochemical principles to synthetic and switchable functional entities and molecules that can mimic the corresponding molecular functions is called reverse molecular engineering. We quantitatively investigated autoinducer-regulated DNA-protein interaction in bacterial gene regulation processes with single atomic force microscopy (AFM) molecule force spectroscopy in vitro, and developed an artificial bistable molecular host-guest system that can be controlled and regulated by external signals (UV light exposure and thermal energy).

Effector-stimulated single molecule protein-DNA interactions of a quorum-sensing system in Sinorhizobium meliloti.

Intercellular communication by means of small signal molecules coordinates gene expression among bacteria. This population density-dependent regulation is known as quorum sensing. The symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm1021 possesses the Sin quorum sensing system based on N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHL) as signal molecules.